CRICKET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 69, 3 January 1936, Page 6

CRICKET.

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH.

CANTERBURY SCORES 322 RUNS. AUCKLAND, This Day. Under perfect conditions the Plunket Shield match, Canterbury versus Auckland, was resumed at Eden Park, before a small attendance, tliis morning. The spectators’ patience had been tried to tlie point of boredom yesterday. Vivian, the spin bowler, and Cowie, the fast bowler, presented a, well-con-trasted attack and not long before the Cromb-Cobden partnership in Canterbury’s first innings was broken. Cromb was snapped up behind by Hayward off Cowie,. the Auckland wicket-keeper gathering the ball cleanly, which he had failed often to do previously. 292—0—70. Cobden batted confidently to bring 300 up. A poor return by Mills prevented a likely run out. With Cobden continuing to shape well, Townsend was brought on. Cobden went down the pitcli to the coach, lifting one dangerously to long on. When he essayed similar tactics against Vivian, Cobden lifted the ball high to Whitelaw near the boundary and a good catch was held. Cobden batted brightly. 318— 7—38. Merritt was immediately in difficulties to Townsend and fell to the coach’s leg trap without scoring. Two balls later Jackman was dismissed in practically the same' way. , Graham played the last ball of the over safely, but Townsend brought the innings to a close a little later, bowling him. 322—10—2. Canterbury had batted an hour to increase the score by 68. Auckland made an indifferent start, losing two wickets in the first halfhour. Roberts and Graham were the opening bowlers, and when Cromb took the ball from Graham after three overs the batsmen were hard put to it to keep their wickets intact. iPostles was trapped by Cromb as soon as the latter came on. He swung a full tosser to the boundary and then cocked a short one to Cobden at short-leg. Mills had a life, being dropped by Bellamy off Roberts in the slips. Weir, after an unsuccessful appeal for leg before, was bowled by Roberts two balls later without scoring. The score at the luncheon adjournment was 22 for two. Details are :—. CANTERBURY. First Innings. Cromb, c Hayward, b Cowie ... 70 Cobden, c Whitelaw, b Vivian 38 Butterfield, not out ... ... 8 Merritt, c Whitelaw, b Townsend 0

Jackman, c Vivian, b Townsend ... 0 Graham, b Townsend * Extras Total 222 Bowling Analysis.—Vivian took five wickets for 98 runs, Townsend four for 80, Cowie one for 65, Postles none for 6, Weijr none for 21, Matheson none for 41. AUCKLAND. First Innings. Postles, c C'obden, b Cromb ... 8 Mills, not out 11 Weir, b Roberts 0 Whitelaw, not out ... 3 Total (for two wickets) ... 22 THIRD TEST IN AFRICA FINGLETON’S AND BROWN’S CENTURIES. (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) CAPE TtfWN, January 2. Several hundred people waited outside the ground to-day, showing no inclination to pay until they were satisfied that play in the third test cricket match between Australia and South Africa would be started. The turf near the wicket, which was damaged' by the mob yesterday, had been repaired. The weather was dull and cold, but the captains inspected the wicket and declared that it was perfectly fit foxplay. Australia won the toss, and _at luncheon had scored 114 without losing a wicket. Fingleton and Brown opened. Crisp was making use of the nasty crosswind. The 7(300 spectators ironically cheered, the first run, which showed they were at last getting something for their money. Langton began with an indifferent length. Crisp had four men in the slips, as he was able to make the ball pop up surprisingly at times. Runs came slowly, mostly off Langton. Crisp was swinging away to leg, with accui-ate length, and was always dangerous. Fingleton, surprisingly, was in a more enterprising mood than usually, and scored the first boundary off Crisp. The fielding was exceptionally good, Balaskas, at short-leg, shining. Fingleton, at 25, survived a confident leg before wicket appeal off Langton. Fifty runs were on the board in 62 minutes. Balaska’s length was faulty, and Brown scored freely off him. In fact, both batsmen took full advantage of his inaccurate attack, taking 20 off five overs. Brown was now driving with great freedom and went past Fingleton, showing the better form, and made the slow bowling look very simple. The hundred went up in 89 minutes, the second 50 having taken only 37 minutes. Ten thousand were present after luncheon. The batsmen maintained a good rate of scoring, the total reaching 150 in 13S minutes. The batsmen reduced the attack almost to mediocrity. Brown, with a glorious six, brought up 200 in 165 minutes, and just afterwards reached his own century in 173 minutes. Fingleton’s 100 occupied 70 minutes longer. Fingleton’s great innings came to an end when lie tamely put up a catch to Wade at short leg. The partnership of 233 is easily the highest for a first wicket by Australia against South Africa. Then followed the sensational dismissal of McCabe without scoring, Balaskas running to mid-on to take a well-judged catch. Brown was out to a brilliant catch at mid-on, Robertson diving and falling full length in holding the ball. Darling, after an uncomfortable passage, was deceived by a straight hall from Balaskas after changing ends and bowling into the wind. He had taken three cheap wickets. Chipperfield was missed behind the wicket when one.

Richardson was beaten by a fast low ball, after making 14 in 54 minutes. The total of 300 took 269 minutes. Chipperfield was bowled round his legs. Oldfield scored two fours and then lost his middle stump. Grimmett and O’Reilly batted freely, adding 48 in 30 minutes before O’Reilly was bowled. Scores: — AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Fingleton, c Wade, b Balaskas ... 112 Brown, e and b Robertson ... 121 McCabe, c and b Balaskas 0 Darling, lbw, b Balaskas ... ... 12 Richardson, lbw, b Crisp ... ... 14 Chipperfield, b Langton ... ... 30 Oldfield, b Robertson 8 O’Reilly, b Balaskas 17 Grimmett, not out 30 McCormick, not out ... ••• 0 Extras ... ••• ••• ••• 18 Total (for eight wickets) 362 Fall of wickets—One for 233, two for 235, three for 251, four for 259, five fox--299, six for 313, seven for 313, eight for 361. / Bowling—Crisp took one wicket for 30 runs, Langton one for 94, Robertson two for 75, Balaskas four for 126, Mitchell none for 19. BRADMAN’S RECORD SCORE'. 4 FIVE TIMES OVER 300 RUNS. (Received This Day, 12.30 p.in.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Bradman’s 357 is the highest score ever made against Victoi'ia. Bradman is the only batsman to score over 300 five times. He lias now reached the double century on 23 occasions, equalling Hammond’s record, and he has now scored 54 centuries in first-class cricket, the only Australian ahead oi him being Bardsley, with 56. •